Running, all-purpose World Cup thread

HOLY SHIT! 1-1 in the 19th minute. What a header!

 

Some serious tattoos there on the goal-scorer. Too bad the US can't take corners like that.

 

At least Italy won't be completely screwed by the French flop job.. but they still need to score once more to erase the horseshit from before.

 

What's also sad is that no foreign media would write a column about flop jobs like that.

If say ARod or Ryan Zimmerman flopped around like a fish on the field for three minutes, the media here would almost villify them. And deservedly so.

 

If I hear Balboa say that France needs to "knock it around," one more time...I'm going Michael Douglas in Falling Down

 

So much for the rumor of Zidane to NY. Still a year left on his contract.

 

I have to agree here.  I like soccer, but the diving is pathetic and has sucked much of my enjoyment out of this World Cup.

 

According to Senor Balboa:

Taking a dive in the box is a "great sell"

Zidane taking a dive outside the box to get a free kick or some shit: "the ref is doing a great job. There's been too much of that in this World Cup."

Uh, yeah, ya think? Italy dives in the box against Australia, they advance. The Ghana guy dives against the US, scores the game-winner on PK. The French guy dives against Portugal, France is in the final.

So, to recap, there's honor in diving... er, uh selling, a call in the box. No honor at all to do it anywhere else.

I'm officially rooting for Italy, even if they get away with a "sell" in the box. Because, you know, fairness and all that.

 

And yes, I know that Portugal are as bad as anyone on that count.  I'm a Portugal fanboy because of my fondness for the country, not because I'm thrilled with the style of the present team.

 

That was odd.
O'Brien said it looks like Gattuso, then yes, it's Perrotta.

 

Balboa, are set pieces important?

Toni off the woodwork.